Top 10 Breakthroughs at the International Auto Shows (Best of Year 2015)

Top 10 Breakthroughs at the International Auto Shows (Best of Year 2015)

2 years ago

Ever since the first vehicle was invented in 1886, people across the globe have had a very special love of cars. The idea that a car is just something that gets you from A to B is an idea of the past. Cars are a passion. They bring people together.

Whether you’re a home grown American car lover who enjoys driving down country roads, an Italian luxury car aficionado who speeds down curvy landscapes or a German engineered car enthusiast who races down the Autobahn, we all share the same common ground. We love putting the pedal to the metal and hearing those engines purr (or in some cases, roar).

Every year, car enthusiasts, connoisseurs and aficionados eagerly await the International Auto Show. Whether you fancy seeing the hottest, most innovate concept cars on display or you love getting a feel for the newest car related technology being released, there is something for everyone.

From 3D Printed Cars, self automated car that mimics the driver’s style, Aston Martin Vulcan releases, and to Audi’s new plug-in/fusion cell SUV, we have the best surprises from this year’s unveilings you might have missed!

If you didn’t get a chance to make it to one of the International Auto Shows across the world, no worries, we’ve got you covered. We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 things you need to know that happened at the International Auto Show. Drivers, start your engines!

Top 10 Cars Showcased in this Year’s International Auto Show 2015:

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WAYPOINT1

1. McLaren 570S prototype

The British beauty is the first in the McLaren sport series and had one of its many debuts at the International Car Show. The McLaren 570S is the definition of exotic. It is a classic sports car with a mid-mounted engine, rear-wheel layout and a lighter, stronger and more innovative carbon fiber chassis. With its M838TE twin-turbo V8 engine, this beast produces 562 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. Power was at the top of their list with its lightweight structure and the use of aluminum body panels. It races down the road with a seven-speed SSG transmission and Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tires.

Contrary to popular belief, not all sports cars have to be gas guzzlers, and the McLaren 570S proves this. The McLaren 570S has an estimated combined fuel economy of 25.5 mpg. The interior is as suave as the exterior. Designed with the driver in mind, the McLaren 570S comes complete with a seven-inch IRIS touchscreen, floating center console, integrated climate control, Bluetooth and SIRIUS satellite radio. Going from 0 to 62 mph in just 3.2 seconds and reaching 124 mph in 9.5 seconds, it is the ultimate James Bond villain car.

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2. Alfa Romeo 4C La Furiosa

The exterior of the Alfa Romeo 4C La Furiosa tops off this gorgeous vehicle with an exposed carbon fiber roof, which fades into a velvet matte-finish. The headlights, air vents and side mirrors are also exposed carbon fiber with a thin coat. It was hand crafted and can only be duplicated by a few global experts, making them stand out that much more. The gold painted, custom designed wheels turn heads as the Alfa Romeo 4C La Furiosa speeds down the streets. When Garage Italia Customs designed the Alfa Romeo 4C La Furiosa they wanted to create a car that emphasized the 4C wild side along with aesthetic appeal. That's what they accomplished!
The interior is just as one of a kind as the exterior. The dashboard, center console and door panels of the Alfa Romeo 4C La Furiosa are upholstered in Alcantara leather as well as the seats, which are decorated with a perforated version of the Italian material. The Alfa Romeo 4C La Furiosa is certainly the fiercest beauty on the market.

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3. Aston Martin Vulcan

With the new James Bond film that just came out this earlier this year, it only makes sense that the Aston Martin Vulcan release was also announced at the International Auto Show. And, yes, the Aston Martin Vulcan is most definitely James Bond worthy. With its V12 engine that goes from 0 to 60 in less than three seconds, as well as omitting 800 horsepower, it will make any car lover drool.

The Aston Martin Vulcan was designed for those who have a need for speed. Its carbon fiber bodywork makes it so that the vehicle itself is more lightweight and has less drag. The body of the Vulcan is designed with aerodynamics in mind—every edge and curve has a functional air-defying purpose. Aston Martin has always had the reputation of creating the most luxurious and high-end vehicles, and with the Vulcan they have done just that.

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4. Toyota FT-1 concept car

When you think Toyota, you don’t exactly assume luxurious and exotic, but that all changed at the International Car Show when Toyota came out with their FT-1 concept car. This car isn’t one you’ll drive to your everyday, mundane job. This is the car that you drive in Gran Turismo video games. This car is setting the scene for Toyota’s makeover to instill more waku-doki or heart-palpitating excitement.
The interior of the FT-1 concept car is designed after fighter jet interiors. Its hyper-driver-focused cockpit is complete with aesthetic appeal and function—everything you require is just a finger extension away. Of course, the Toyota FT-1 concept car had to come in a bright cherry red, accentuating its every curve. Its edgy and curvaceous design isn’t just for looks. It’s functional. Every curve and every edge on the Toyota FT-1 concept car has been designed with speed in mind. Toyota hasn’t disclosed what is under the gorgeous hood of the FT-1 concept car, but we can certainly let our imaginations run wild.

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5. Audi Q6 e-Tron Quattro concept

The International Car Show has released lots of exciting news for the world, especially Audi’s e-tron electric SUV concept. This is not a regular Audi; the Q6 e-Tron Quattro concept will be a fully-electric powertrain vehicle with a 310-mile range. Dr. Rudiger Chmielewski, head of total vehicle development for Audi, indicated that the most exciting part of the vehicle is that by the time it's launched it will come with a fast charge network whereby an 80% charge will only take half an hour. Audi plans to launch the Q6 e-Tron Quattro in 2018. The exterior of the Q6 e-Tron Quattro will be very similar to the all-new Q5 and updated Q7, which are sleek midsized SUVs.
The Q6 e-Tron Quattro is said to have all-wheel drive, around 500 horsepower and more than 500 pound-feet of torque. There's no final decision yet on what is going to power the Q6 e-Tron Quattro, however, a plug-in-hybrid model and fuel-cell versions are rumored. Either way, Audi is aiming higher than ever before and making their claim of Vorsprung durch Technik or progress through technology a reality.

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6. Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II

Ever since the genesis of Rolls-Royce and their release of the six-cylinder Silver Ghost, which just so happened to be named “best car in the world,” the luxury car manufacturer has been living up to their expectations. At the International Auto Show, Rolls-Royce did it again with their release of the Ghost Series II. It has a 6.6-liter V12 eight-speed automatic transmission that is said to boost fuel economy by 10% and has an output of 563 horsepower.
The iconic Rolls-Royce has its traditional rectangular headlights and iconic suicide doors. The interior of the Ghost Series II received a bit of an update with an 8.8-inch screen as well as the touchpad that allows selection of audio, navigation and telephone. Fit for royalty, this iconic legend goes from 0 to 60 in just 4.7 seconds. As is tradition, the Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II is hand built in England.

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7. Panoz Esperante GTR-1 Street Car

In the 1990s, to race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, it was necessary to have a companion street car. That was when the 1997 Panoz Esperante GTR-1 Le Mans Homologation Special was created. In 1998, the Panoz Q9 GTR-1 Hybrid, also known as “Sparky,” was the first successful modern hybrid racecar. Currently, there is only one remaining Panoz Esperante GTR-1 street car and it just so happened to be at the 2015 International Auto Show. It took six months of restoration before its appearance, but it was worth the wait.
The Panoz Esperante GTR-1 street car is powered by a 6.0-liter Ford-sourced V8 engine. During its prime, it had five overall wins and nine class victories. Though it may not sound like it, the Panoz Esperante GTR-1 is actually street legal. It has an output of 600 horsepower and more than 500 pound-feet of torque. Fallen head over wheels yet? We have too, and luckily Panoz will build replicas starting at $890,000. If the Panoz Esperante GTR-1 car itself isn’t impressive enough, its history could make any car hater fall in love.

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8. LM3D by Local Motors

It's a little difficult to wrap our heads around the idea of 3D printing, but at the International Auto Show, the concept really came to life with the announcement of the World’s first 3D printed vehicle, dubbed Strati, by Local Motors. Local Motors uses direct digital manufacturing, or DDM, along with 3D printing as parts of the production method. The main goal of Local Motors is to revolutionize the car industry. They don’t aim to simply sell consumer cars—they want consumers to design and co-create their own models.

The Strati model is part of Oak Ridge’s Big Area Additive Manufacturing, which aided in speeding up the process and allowed for a larger sized object to be printed 3D. The body and the chassis of the Strati were printed all at once and took less than two days. The first version, a Low Speed Electronic Vehicle, or LSEV, came out this year and Local Motors plans to release the first road-ready vehicle by the end of 2017. We sure do love our fast sports car, but the LM3D is almost on another level.

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9. IDS Concept by Nissan Motor Company

We never thought the day would come when we would have cars that not only drive themselves, but also don’t emit pollution. At the International Auto Show, that day finally came with the release of the IDS, or intelligent driving system, by Nissan Motor Company. Looking like a sleek, high-end sedan, this car is anything but normal. It comes with laser scanners, a 360-degree camera setup, radar and computer chips.
The IDS can operate like a normal car, but can also take over and make emergency maneuvers. All the driver needs to do to go into piloted mode is flip a switch. Once in piloted mode, the cabin layout changes for additional driver and passenger comfort including the steering wheel moving back and an entertainment flat screen that moves forward. The seats can also swivel to face one another. The IDS is also programmed to mimic the driving styles of their owners, making it that much more personal. Nissan plans to bring the IDS to consumers before 2020 with other concepts on the way.

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10. Porsche Cayman GT4

Porsche claims that the Cayman GT4 is their “tribute to all the motorsport enthusiasts and performance motivators,” and we couldn’t be more thankful that they made their debut at the International Auto Show where car lovers from around the world come together to share a common passion. A flat-six direct fuel injection 3.8-liter engine is the Porsche Cayman GT4’s secret to success. It outputs 385 horsepower and 309 pound-feet torque and it speeds down the road from 0 to 60 in just 4.2 seconds. We salute you, Porsche.
Even the exterior design is engineered to slice through the wind. The extra spoilers, wheel arches, and wide front end help increase aerodynamic downforce at the front axle. The air intakes improve air flow to the coolant radiators and the central air intake directs the airflow to the luggage compartment lid, which reinforces that downforce. We can’t wait to test drive it ourselves.
With modern day technology, the car market has truly exploded, as has the International Auto Show. Cities across the globe host their own unique version, each one of them announcing new technologies and releasing new vehicles bringing together car enthusiasts and automobile connoisseurs. It is quite the spectacle to see and that's not to mention all the innovative and luxurious cars. This year's International Auto Show was certainly one to remember.